Latest news with #Zibi
The Citizen
01-08-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
35 DHET employees suspended for sexual harassment and theft
Over the past five financial years, the department suspended 157 employees in total. The department of higher education and training (DHET) is grappling with a personnel crisis, with 56 employees currently suspended on various charges ranging from sexual harassment to fraud. Rise Mzansi MP Songezo Siphiwo Zibi questioned former minister of higher education and training Nobuhle Nkabane about the suspensions. Zibi also questioned the DHET having the second most number of suspended employees among all national government departments as of 31 December 2024. Zibi initially asked about 35 employees who were put on suspension with full pay as at 31 January this year. However, while only providing the breakdown for the 35, the department recently also revealed that in the 2024/25 year, 56 employees in total were suspended. Scale of the suspension crisis The inquiry revealed serious misconduct allegations across multiple salary levels and demographics in the DHET. The suspended employees face various charges including sexual harassment, theft, fraud, assault and intimidation. Several cases involve allegations against students, highlighting concerns about the safety of the learning environment. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa fires Nobuhle Nkabane, appoints new higher education minister Financial impact The suspensions are costing taxpayers significantly. Monthly salaries for the 35 suspended employees range from R11 961 to R73 126, with most earning between R20 000 and R40 000 per month. Over the past five financial years, the department suspended 157 employees in total. The financial cost reached R31.7 million in salaries paid during this period. Individual cases and charges Among the most serious cases are multiple sexual harassment allegations. The eight employees facing these charges are: Ndlovu SP who earns R32 783.50, Garside RPK, who faces 'allegations of sexual harassment against students in exchange for marks' and earns R30 274.50 monthly while suspended. Mapadimeng J earning R25 663.87; Vilana M earning R40,675 87; Nkosi SM earning R21 466.00; Maneli GM earning R43 469.25; Mahlangu TM earning R24 348.0;, and Mienies SC earning R22 334.00. Several employees face fraud charges related to trade certifications. Thobejane SN and Mokoena JP both face 'allegations of fraud in processing trade certifications' and earn R23 626 and R18 579.75 respectively. Theft allegations feature prominently. Mdumbe PZ, Rigala B and Mbengo G all face theft charges. However, Rigala B and Mbengo G had 'no adverse findings' against them despite the allegations. ALSO READ: Five things you need to know about the new higher education minister Buti Manamela Timeline concerns The duration of disciplinary processes varies significantly. Some cases have been finalised, while others remain pending. Employee Vilana M's case status is 'unclear as the chairperson is on sick leave', despite earning R40 675.87 monthly. The department's data shows average resolution times have improved dramatically. In 2020/2021, cases took an average of 137.6 days to conclude. By 2024/2025, this dropped to 14.4 days on average. ALSO READ: Outa concerned about new higher education minister Five-year suspension pattern The suspension crisis has escalated over recent years. In 2020/2021, seven employees were suspended at a cost of R6.01 million. This number peaked at 56 suspensions in 2024/2025, costing R6.07 million. The 2022/2023 financial year saw the highest costs, with R10.55 million paid to 33 suspended employees. The 2023/2024 period had the most suspensions at 48 employees, costing R7.65 million. Departmental response to suspensions Nkabane's former office acknowledged the severity of the situation. According to the parliamentary reply, 'employees were placed on precautionary suspension due to various allegations of serious misconduct, ranging from sexual harassment and theft'. The department attributes prolonged suspensions to several factors. These include 'the complexity and severity of the allegation, sophisticated act of misconduct, shortage of investigators and the safety of witnesses'. ALSO READ: Parliament concludes Seta panel never existed Demographic breakdown The suspended employees span various salary levels from Post Level 1 (PL1), referring to the entry-level position for teachers to SL14. The majority are classified as black males and females, with some coloured and white employees also suspended. Higher-level employees face more complex charges. Ngubelanga LL, at salary level 14 earning R72 878.10, faces supply chain management irregularities. Muswaba MM, at level 13 earning R73 126.73, faces misconduct allegations under Section 188A procedures. Ongoing investigations and suspension cases breakdown Of the 35 suspended employees, 26 cases have been finalised, while eight remain pending disciplinary hearings. One employee resigned during the process and two cases resulted in no adverse findings despite initial allegations. Sexual harassment represents the most common charge, with eight employees suspended for various forms of harassment. Theft allegations account for three suspensions, while fraud in processing trade certifications led to two suspensions. Other charges include 3 cases of improper conduct, 2 cases each of assault and sabotage allegations, and individual cases of gross negligence, intimidation, falsifying documents, conflict of interest, and unauthorised possession of equipment. Several cases remain unresolved. Disciplinary hearings for multiple employees are scheduled to conclude by various dates through September 2025. Some employees await final determinations. READ NEXT: R10k just to show up: Fear of 'Nkabane 2.0' as ANC Youth League leaders get hospital board positions
Eyewitness News
16-07-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Zibi warns dissolved board of RAF must be replaced with a capable one
JOHANNESBURG - Chairperson of Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) Songezo Zibi has warned that the dissolved board of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) must be replaced with one that is capable. Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy on Tuesday dissolved the board of the government-funded entity, citing governance and operational challenges. The board appeared before SCOAP earlier this year, where it was revealed, among others, that the head of legal does not have a law degree. The oversight committee launched an inquiry to investigate allegations of maladministration, financial impropriety and the misuse of public funds at the embattled entity. At the same time, RAF's CEO, Collins Letsoalo, was suspended earlier this year for alleged corruption and failure to appear before SCOPA. Zibi said the dissolution of the board came as no surprise. 'We've noted as a committee a number of underperformances by the board in overseeing the Road Accident Fund. We've highlighted the numerous vacancies in critical posts. The accumulation of default judgments that the Road Accident Fund does not defend that amount to R5 billion at the moment at a rate of up to 100 million per week. We had said in our committee that this board is failing so the decision is not surprising.' Zibi said the board must be replaced by one that is credible. 'It's important that whoever steps in on an interim basis is capable, experienced and strong-willed because it doesn't help to replace one weak and problematic board with another.'
IOL News
27-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Road Accident Fund acknowledges Scopa's inquiry into its operations
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts has resolved to launch a full committee inquiry into allegations of maladministration, financial mismanagement, wasteful and reckless expenditure, and related financial misconduct at the Road Accident Fund. Image: File The Road Accident Fund (RAF) said on Friday it noted the decision of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) to institute a full committee inquiry into its affairs. This comes days after Scopa resolved earlier this week to launch a full committee inquiry into allegations of maladministration, financial mismanagement, wasteful and reckless expenditure, and related financial misconduct at the RAF. The decision was taken after attempts by the committee to obtain truthful, complete information from the RAF board and executive management came to no avail. The RAF said in a statement it respected Scopa as an accountability body which derives its functions and powers from Rule 245 of the rules of the National Assembly. 'We will continue to account to the people of South Africa through this important organ of Parliament. We reiterate and put emphasis on what we have already reported in the RAF annual reports for the last three years, that the RAF has been financially unsustainable since its establishment in 1946.' The RAF stated that it has been the subject of multiple commissions of inquiry, and the common thread across all commissions' findings has been the disconnect between the funding model and the benefit structure. 'The unsustainable funding and operating models were further compounded by an increase in administrative costs, driven mainly by legal and medical costs,' said the accident insurance fund. In a memorandum prepared for Scopa, committee Chairperson Songezo Zibi cited issues related to the organogram and vacancies at the RAF. Zibi also mentioned the submission of inaccurate, misleading, and/or false information to Parliament by the entity. There were also issues related to whistle-blower reports on two media services contracts worth R1 billion, RAF's acquisition of offices, as well as litigation against the Auditor-General and matters of rule of law. 'The information I set out raises numerous and serious concerns about corporate governance at the RAF,' he said. Scopa's secretariat is expected to draft the terms of reference for the inquiry to be considered by the MPs on July 1 and then use the period afterwards to prepare for the inquiry. The DA wants the inquiry to cover all of the outrageous financial mismanagement identified over the past months and years at the RAF. In the letter to Zibi, DA MP Patrick Atkinson said they welcomed the resolution to initiate the parliamentary inquiry into the worsening crisis at the RAF. 'However, for this inquiry to be meaningful and in the public interest, it must be comprehensive in scope. A surface-level examination will fail to address the systematic mismanagement, misconduct and abuse of public funds that have defined the RAF's recent history,' Atkinson wrote. The RAF defended its use of litigation against the Auditor-General, which will form part of the inquiry. The entity has pursued the legal action despite being advised not to do so by the Transport Department. The RAF said it is only in the audit of financial statements that the disagreement with the Auditor-General of South Africa on the accounting policy change resulted in an adverse opinion. It also said it has internal forensic investigations and ethics divisions to ensure proper and transparent management of corrupt and unethical practices. 'An independently managed ethics and fraud hotline is available for staff and stakeholders to anonymously report any unethical and corrupt practices. Furthermore, the introduction of the RAF Contact Centre will go a long way in ensuring that claimants' queries are addressed.' The RAF said despite its positive strides, it continued to manage challenges associated with a transforming organisation. 'The 2025–30 strategic plan presents an opportunity to optimise areas that have worked and to improve where gaps still persist. To this end, the RAF proactively subjected the 2025/26 annual performance plan to an independent review by the AGSA. 'The RAF reiterates that the most urgent task required to ensure financial and operational sustainability for the Fund is a legislative review.'
IOL News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Scopa to hold inquiry to investigate maladministration at the Road Accident Fund
Scopa chairperson Songezo Zibi said they have decided to institute a parliamentary inquiry into the affairs of the troubled Road Accident Fund (RAF). The Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Tuesday said it has decided to institute a parliamentary inquiry into the affairs of the troubled Road Accident Fund (RAF). Scopa chairperson Songezo Zibi made the proposal that the committee look into matters related to maladministration and allegations made about the institution. 'There are lots of allegations and counter-allegations. Everybody involved needs to get their opportunity to present their side of the story before the committee. We need to give everyone an opportunity and to do so under oath,' Zibi said. Briefing the MPs, Zibi referred a memorandum to the committee's secretariat to prepare on issues that have beset the RAF. 'The ministry and RAF sent enormous volume of documents. We synthesise them and prepared a memo and shared with members. The only information redacted is critical whistle blower information.' In his memorandum, Zibi cited issues related to the organogram and vacancies at the RAF. He also mentioned the submission of inaccurate, misleading and or false information to Parliament by the entity. There were also issues related to whistle-blower reports on two media services contracts worth R1 billion, RAF's acquisition of offices as well as litigation against the Auditor-General and matters of rule of law. 'The information I set out raises numerous and serious concerns about corporate governance at the RAF,' he said. DA Patrick George Atkinson said the situation at the RAF was deeply concerning. "The kind of amounts we talk of could dwarf anything this committee has dealt with. It could make SAA look like a tea party by the amounts that are involved and the potential liability created for the state," Atkinson said. "If we can get to the bottom of the corruption and waste of money, the increase in a fuel levy might not even be necessary. The public pays for the corruption and maladministration in RAF. It is critical we get the bottom of it," he added. Atkinson noted that there had been discrepancies in what they were told by the RAF and what the whistle-blowers were revealing. ANC MP Helen Neale-May said there were concerns around governance and conduct of RAF with serious allegations of abuse of power, financial mismanagement and the disregard of legal procedures. "We have no other choice and let's see from them. It is just unbelievable," Neale-May said. His colleague Gijimani Skosana said the inquiry will assist stakeholders within and outside RAF to tell their stories. "Everyone will be speaking under oath, unlike now where we invite them for a committee conversation," Skosana said. UDM's Thandi Nontenja said the RAF seemed to be a law unto itself. "We really support your view that there must be an inquiry. Beside contradicting themselves, they are not forthcoming with information that is requested," Nontenja said. "They are hiding something. It is not something good. I hope that having an inquiry will give us a way to get to the root of what is really happening there. It is amazing they get away with everything," she added. MK Party's David Skosana said issues at the RAF touch a nerve of many people in the country and there was a lot of interest there. "When the CEO told us they saved over R20bn some of us applauded to say he has done well. The fact is that the CEO and team saved this country over R20m," Skosana said before questioning why certain names of companies were not named in the memorandum. His colleague Kwenzokuhle Madlala said he did not believe the RAF was performing optimally or that it has proper governance. "We see total collapse in all the institutions and RAF is not an exception," he said. EFF MP Veronica Mente did not see the need to institute an inquiry in RAF as she believed the matters did not warrant an inquiry. She said there were non-performing municipalities and issues of service delivery, as an example, that could be pursued. After the parties motivated for and against the parliamentary inquiry, it was decided to push ahead with it. Zibi said the committee secretariat will draft terms of reference to be considered by Scopa on July 1 and then use the period afterwards to prepare for the inquiry. He stated that once they completed the inquiry, they will consider all written evidence and testimony and then write a report with recommendations for the House.
IOL News
16-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
'We will not be silent': RISE Mzansi marks youth day with bold call to action for SA's youth
RISE Mzansi commemorates Youth Day at the Hector Pieterson Memorial, vowing to continue the fight for dignity, safety, and opportunity for young people. Image: File RISE Mzansi has vowed to continue fighting for the issues that affect South Africa's youth, drawing a direct line between the struggles of 1976 and today's challenges. Speaking at the Hector Pieterson Memorial during a wreath-laying ceremony on June 16, RISE Mzansi National Leader Songezo Zibi MP delivered a scathing indictment of the country's failure to protect and empower young people nearly five decades after the Soweto uprising. 'Today, we stand here, 49 years since Hector Pieterson, Tsietsi Mashinini, and scores more bled and lost their lives for the liberation of this country and its young people. Their fight is far from complete, and the scars of that era still remain,' said Zibi. He said that while legislation like the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act exists, the current school environment remains hostile and dangerous. 'In the last year, there were 42 cases of rape; 96 cases of attempted murder; 1,214 cases of assault GBH; and 376 cases of rape at places of learning,' he stated. Zibi said RISE Mzansi had formally asked the Minister of Basic Education to deliver an Executive Statement in Parliament on June 24 to account for efforts being made to improve school safety and quality. 'The case of little Cwecwe is not an isolated one,' he added, referencing recent tragic incidents involving children. Beyond education, Zibi tackled youth unemployment head-on, condemning the government for presiding over a crisis where 'the youth unemployment rate is close to 50%, or just over 62% if you include young people who have given up on looking for work.' 'These young people are you; the ones gathered here today in the name of Hector Pieterson; they are our family members,' he said, adding that the current R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant should be transformed into a R35-billion investment in youth economic development. 'Let us fund the future, rather than plastering over our current problems.' He also raised concerns about a 'silent crisis' ravaging communities: gambling addiction. 'You look left, you look right, you see gambling advertising on TV, during sports matches, on social media, and even at Home Affairs,' said Zibi, warning that the addiction among young people aged 25 to 35 is spiraling. RISE Mzansi also highlighted the growing food insecurity affecting over 20 million South Africans, particularly children. 'Twenty-three percent of children suffer from severe hunger, which results in developmental problems such as stunting,' the party said, emphasizing the role of MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa in addressing the issue through food empowerment initiatives. Turning to the upcoming National Dialogue, RISE Mzansi expressed concern about the reported R700-million budget. 'The touted R700-million price-tag appears to be excessive,' Zibi said, saying the party would use its parliamentary oversight to ensure financial accountability. The party insists that the dialogue must 'address issues of justice in all its forms' and not 'escape the issue of ethical leadership across society, political, business, civil society, and academia.' 'RISE Mzansi will continue to fight for the South Africa we all deserve, and this cannot be done without working with and listening to young people,' Zibi said. IOL News
